Zipp, which helped popularize deep-section aero road wheels, is never one to stop innovating. At an event in Arizona this winter, the company unveiled new, more affordable aero wheels and new handlebars that will improve your bike’s aero profile.

The Vuka Stealth bar is an integrated carbon aero bar setup for TT and multisport bikes. It has an integrated stem, but is still adjustable. It can be set in 1,920 different positions, ensuring that any rider can get into his or her preferred position.

By integrating the stem, Zipp says it has arrived at a stiffer bar that’s easier to install and more aerodynamic than previous versions. It’s legal for pro time trials thanks to an airfoil shape that does not exceed the 3:1 ratio limit imposed by the UCI. Even so, the company says that it’s as aero as the company’s Vuka Aero bar and SL145 stem—a combination whose slippery design made it illegal under UCI standards (it was legal for triathlon).

The bar weighs approximately 820 grams, with extensions. The base bar and stem combo costs $1,070, and includes an integrated mount for Garmin’s Edge cycling computers—but the larger 800 and 810 may be tight fits. In order to complete the system, you’ll need to add your favorite extensions (22.2mm diameter only), or use one of three types from Zipp: There are aluminum extensions for $55, carbon ones for $130, and carbon extensions with integrated mounts for SRAM’s R2C shifters for $200. Each includes a lengthening block to set the reach within 10mm windows.

Most cyclists will be able to achieve the right stack and reach geometry on their bikes with the Vuka Stealth, but you’ll have even more options with the Vuka Alumina system—that one lets you (or your fitter) choose among 2,969 different positions by pairing with a standard stem to accommodate cyclists with unusual fit needs. The Stealth’s integrated design lets you chose from only three stem lengths.

The fit options enabled by the Vuka bars are so numerous that it’s best to work with a fitter to make sure that your bars are set up properly. For cyclists who prefer to do their own fit, the company plans to release an app for smart phones (it will also be available on desktop computers), called Vuka Fit, that will help provide fit dimensions based on your bike’s stack and reach.

The bars include a number of options for routing cables, ensuring that you’ll always be able to position your cables in a way that minimizes aerodynamic drag and drag on the cables themselves. There’s also shaping inside the bar that makes it easier to fish a cable through bar—a plumbing task that can sometimes be onerous. Future updates to the bar may include add-ons like hydration systems, but at their launch, Zipp refused to talk about specifics.

404 Firecrest Wheels Go 650C
Zipp also announced that its 650c-size 404 model would now become identical to the 700c version. The smaller size had previously used an aluminum brake track, and a different rim profile than the current generation of the 404 Firecrest. The 650c wheels will now share the same carbon brake surface and Firecrest shape as the regular-sized wheel. Zipp says that the shape reduces the force exerted by a crosswind on a rider, making it easier to control—a particular benefit to smaller riders. The wheels will come with an 11-speed compatible hub, and uses 16 front spokes and 20 rear spokes. Wheelsets will sell for $2,725, and come with brake pads, quick-release skewers, and inner tubes (but not tires). Look for them in shops in March 2013.